In the book I urge you to do some type of physical testing for your son as part of his Rite of Passage event. We did a modified Army fitness test., although what you do is up to you.

Working with an official military test is a good idea if you want to use a scoring method. I use these in our homeschool so I can test my kids according to their scores and look for improvements over time.

If your son is showing an aptitude for a certain sport, skill, or occupation, you could create a test based on that or possibly find one.

Whatever you do, I want you to keep several things in mind-

Choose a test that will challenge him but not demean him. This event is meant to raise up a new man, not crush his spirit.

Choose a test that at least some of the attendees will also be able to participate in.

Alternatively, if you don’t want to use a testing format, you could always do an organized workout. We used to do these all the time in the Marine Corps. Here’s a couple of links to give you an idea of what you could do that would be really fun.

This message was written by a team of geeks, nerds, gamers, and Dr. David Powers. You can always find us at www.callsignredbeard.com. Thanks for reading!

Sample Letter of Invitation

Dear _____,

Greetings in the name of the Lord!

After prayerful consideration, I am writing to ask you and several other men to help with an event that is most dear to me. My _____ (son) ____________________ (name) is turning thirteen this month, and I believe that we need to celebrate his coming into the first stages of manhood in a special way. I am organizing a gathering of godly men who will pray and speak words of encouragement over ______________ (son) at a manhood ceremony to be held _______________________. I am requesting that you help in this celebration in some or all of the following ways:

(1) Write a letter to ____________ that addresses growing into mature manhood and includes a selected passage of Scripture, a life lesson that you have personally learned, and a word of blessing. This is the most important aspect of the ceremony, as _____________ will treasure these letters as he grows.

(2) Commit to pray for ___________ during this time, asking that God will reveal His perfect plan for him.

(3) Provide a small gift that is symbolic or has particular meaning for a young man growing up. This may be a book, something crafted by hand, a plaque or picture, a knife, etc. Please understand that the emphasis here is on the symbolic meaning, not on the gift itself.

(4) Attend the ceremony if you are able. It will be held on __________ the ______ at ____________ from ____ to ______. Food and beverages will be served at the gathering.

(5) God may give you another way on how to bless this fine young man. Please feel free to be creative.

I realize that the ____ is drawing close, and I am giving you short notice. Please forgive me for this. If you cannot attend, you may send your letters or gifts to me at my home and address all correspondence to me. Although the celebration is not a complete surprise to _________, he does not know the full scale of the event and will not receive gifts or letters until that night. If you need to e-mail a letter, you may send it to my personal e-mail address, and I will print it out for that night.

I am indebted to you for your kindness and your influence in both mine and __________’s life. If I can return the favor for a special young person in your life , just say the word, and I will respond. I want to thank you in advance for helping me to send this fine young man into God’s plan for his life! Please call me if you have any questions.

Letter to Attendees- Six Months Prior

Men, this message is only going out to a few of you who are special to me and Abishai. I need your help for an upcoming event for him.

Alright, here goes…

In about six months my oldest son Abishai will be turning 13 years old. Shortly after his birthday in July, we will be holding a Rite of Passage ceremony to welcome him into manhood. This ceremony will be a time for other men to welcome him “to a seat at the table”. A seat at the table is a term meaning that a young man was allowed to sit and converse with other men as an equal, albeit an inexperienced one.

Why a Rite of Passage? The age of thirteen doesn’t mean that he will automatically be a mature man at that age. Certainly not. Maturity comes with age and experience, and we can all attest that some men never reach that level of manhood. In this time and culture men are often left without a clear mark in time when they became a man and were expected to act as such. Many men relate manhood to their first beer, the age of eighteen, a first sexual experience, or military service. This is arbitrary and unhelpful.

At the age of thirteen, he will be physically capable of reproducing. This is an awesome responsibility and one taken lightly by many. It is because of this responsibility that myself and my wife Korrene have decided to mark a point in time where he is expected to behave as a man and grow into mature manhood.

This letter is an advance notice for you. As a valued man in my life and Abishai’s life, I would like to invite you to take part in this ceremony either in person or from a distance (if you can’t make it to the event). I’ll stay in touch and let you know as soon as a date and location are decided, but it will be in mid-July.

In the meantime I could use your help. All of his twelfth year has been and will be spent in preparation for his Rite of Passage ceremony, but I could use your input…

What books would you put on a required reading list for a young man?

What areas of knowledge would you see as essential to become a mature young man?

What skills do you believe a young man should know, at least at a novice level?

Feel free to get in touch with me if you have any advice or information to offer. My contact information is below. If you wish for anything you tell me to remain confidential as to who it came from, please let me know.

Thank you.

Letter to Attendees- Three Months Prior

Only three more months until my son Abishai turns thirteen. We’ll hold his Rite of Passage celebration to welcome him to a seat at the table of men. I hope you will be able to participate either in person or in some other way. Right now, it is tentatively scheduled for July 15, 2017.

One of the many things I’m doing for him is to assemble a Book of Knowledge. This Book of Knowledge will contain two main sections. One of them he already has access to. It contains information that I want him to know before the event, certain essential lessons that I feel he should have a proper grasp of at thirteen.

I would also like to add a second section that you can help me with, and some of you have already done so. This second section will contain stories and advice from you, the valued men in our lives. What I need from you are stories and lessons that you can offer that will go into this book and enrich his journey into maturity. If you don’t mind, could you send me any personal material you feel should be included?

Here are just a few ideas…

Events that shaped your life, such as war stories

Photographs

Lessons you learned or were passed down to you from others

Stories of your own failures

Your favorite Bible story or verse

With each entry in this Book of Knowledge I also plan on adding a short biography highlighting how we know each other to show him an example of the depth of how male friendships are made. For this bio, please feel free to add any information you would like represented that was formative for you, such as military experience, Boy Scouts, a religious conversion, or something about your family.

In addition to your entries, I would also like for you to begin considering a gift of some kind. It does not have to be large or expensive. It just needs to be meaningful. An excellent example of a gift is one from my own life. It was an inexpensive pin that cost no more than a few dollars. On it was an eagle, a globe, and an anchor. It was a Marine Corps emblem handed to me at the end of Boot Camp by my Drill Instructor. That inexpensive pin was earned with a great measure of blood and sweat and I greatly revered the man who gave it to me.

What token could you offer that would mean something to a young man?

If you don’t feel like you will be able to make it to the event, please don’t worry. I still want you to participate. For the men who won’t be in attendance in person, I would like to play videos of you speaking into his life. Please start considering what you would like to say and feel free to send over a video at any time.

Thank you so much for helping, and also for being a member of my fraternity of men.

Letter to Attendees- Two Months Prior

We’re two month’s out from my oldest son Abishai’s Rite of Passage event, so I wanted to send out another reminder. I really want this day to be special for him, and I need your help to do that.

The big news is that I have a date and location. It will be July 15 at Audubon Acres in Chattanooga. Audubon is a 130 acre wildlife sanctuary near our home. They graciously gave me the use of their classroom facilities for the evening.

The event will start in the afternoon with feats of strength. Abishai will be completing a physical fitness test consisting of push-ups, sit-ups, and a 3 mile run. Even better, all the men in attendance are welcome to join him or even motivate him from the sidelines. I may challenge him to a push-up contest myself, but I’ll leave the 3 mile run to some of you other guys.

Feel free to let me know by e-mail, phone, or text if you are attending in person or not.

Aside from the RSVP, I still have a few things for you to consider…

Video message if you won’t be able to attend in person

Small gift

Message to include in the Book of Knowledge

So far, I’ve had some amazing responses from several best-selling authors in the Christian world, some friends and some who just wanted to bless him, even though we don’t know them personally. They’ve sent boxes of gifts and personal letters. I’m saving all of these for him to open at the event.

I look forward to hearing from you and seeing you in July.

PS…For those who are coming from out of town, I’ll send directions and hotel information in the next e-mail. We’ll be moving before then, but I’m not sure where yet. If I have a big enough yard or floor space, you’re more than welcome to stay with me in tents or in any open space in the house.

Letter to Attendees- One Month Prior

We’re just a month out from my oldest son Abishai’s Rite of Passage celebration on July 15, 2017.

There’s been a big change though, and I wanted to let everyone know in case it affects your plans to attend. We’re moving from Chattanooga TN to Surfside Beach SC this month, so the event will now be in Myrtle Beach SC. I’ll have a firm location for you soon. The really great news is that there is no shortage of hotels, Airbnb’s, and campgrounds to choose from. Or you could rent an entire beach house with its own pool!

Here’s where I need your help. We’re pretty much at Go Time with the planning, and I need a firm commitment from you in the form of an RSVP if you can make it. This way I can plan on plenty of grub for everyone to eat and enough room that we can have some space to get rowdy if we need to.

Feel free to let me know by e-mail, phone, or text if you are attending in person or not. If you can’t attend in person, I understand. All I ask is that you send him something for the event either way, like a video, handwritten letter, or a small gift.

Once again the Rite of Passage celebration will be in Myrtle Beach SC on July 15, 2017.

Aside from the RSVP, I want you to consider…

Video message or letter if you won’t be able to attend in person

Small gift

Message to include in the Book of Knowledge

I look forward to hearing back from you.

Thanks!

PS…If you’ve already sent something, all I need is your RSVP if you’ll make it to the event.

Letter to Attendees- One Week Prior

Wow! In just a week, we’ll be celebrating my oldest son Abishai’s Rite of Passage ceremony on Saturday July 15.

We just moved back to Myrtle Beach SC, so it’s been a little crazy getting the move underway and settled…and then prepping for his event.

Here’s the specs on the event…

Saturday July 15 at 1900 hrs (7pm) until 2100 hrs (9pm).

Friendship Baptist Church fellowship hall at 605 6th Ave S in Myrtle Beach. The church should pull up easy on your phone maps. Don’t worry, it’s not too close to the area now known as ‘Murder Beach’ here in town.

Dress is casual, possibly even workout clothes, as you’ll see below.

If you’re coming from out of town, there is no shortage of hotels, Airbnb’s, and campgrounds to choose from. Or you could rent an entire beach house with its own pool!

Here’s where I need your help. Planning is done and it’s Go Time! I need a firm commitment from you in the form of an RSVP if you can make it. This way I can plan on plenty of grub for everyone to eat and enough room that we can have some space to get rowdy if we need to. If you’ve already told me, I have you on the list.

Feel free to let me know by e-mail, phone, or text if you are attending in person or not. If you can’t attend in person, I understand. All I ask is that you send him something for the event either way, like a video, handwritten letter, or a small gift.

In addition to an RSVP, I want you to consider…

Video message or letter if you won’t be able to attend in person

Small gift

Message to include in the Book of Knowledge

We’ll begin with a physical fitness test for him, hence the casual dress for the event. It’ll consist of max push-ups in 2 minutes, max sit-ups in 2 minutes, and a 1.5 mile run. If you’re up to it, join him. He may even challenge some of you men to a push-up contest. The run would be a great time to go out for an easy jog and talk with him.

Disclaimer- You are more than welcome to bring your sons, but ONLY if they’re 13 or older. I am hoping you’ve already had that series of awkward talks with your son if he is 13. ABSOLUTELY no women are invited. Men only! This way, we don’t have to be as careful what we talk about, and we’ll be perfectly free to be men.

I look forward to hearing back from you.

Thanks!

Several Days Prior Reminder

Men, I want to thank all of you for permitting me to flood your mailboxes and e-mail boxes with invites to my oldest son Abishai’s Rite of Passage event. This is the last time you’ll hear from me on it before I see some of you on Saturday.

Last chance to send over a message or video for me to include in the ceremony. If you have something like that or a gift to drop off, please do it quick.

We’ll begin with the PT test, hence the casual dress for the event.

Max push-ups in 2 minutes

Max sit-ups in 2 minutes

5 mile run

If you’re up to it, join him. He may even challenge some of you men to a push-up contest. The run would be a great time to go out for an easy jog and talk with him.

You’re welcome to bring your sons if they’re 13 or older, but ABSOLUTELY no women are invited. Men only! This way, we don’t have to be as careful what we talk about, and we’ll be perfectly free to be men.

Here’s who I’ve heard from, in case I missed anyone…

Attending- ______

Gifts, letters, and/or videos from _______

This is a pretty awesome mix of pastors, Marines, family, best-selling authors, and friends.

Thanks!

This message was written by a team of geeks, nerds, gamers, and Dr. David Powers. You can always find us at www.callsignredbeard.com. Thanks for reading!

Ugh! A parent walked over with her kid at the playground. My first thought was, “What’s my kid done now?”

But no. She walked him over to apologize in person to my kid. You see, her kid is on the autism spectrum, and she was helping him to learn social skills. It’s not even that he did anything bad like throwing sand or rocks (yeah, my kids have done that).

She was just teaching him how to do something better.

This interaction turned into a great conversation with her, and my wife and I made a new friend.

Not many parents have THOSE kids.

Many parents have THESE kids…

No idea what responsibility or consequences mean

Free allowance for nothing

Get whatever they want

Obese

Never venture outside unless forced

I feel bad for THOSE kids. The saving grace is that they’re kids, so there’s still time to unleash their greatness!

Here’s an example of two awesome kids I know…

Of course I have to mention one of my own. My oldest son of 13 years just turned one of his homeschool assignments into his first published book about salads for kids. It’s funny too- he even thanked The Rock in it for inspiring him.

Another impressive young kid is Clara Isabel Logsdon. I know this 8yo artist through her grandad Dan Miller. She completely illustrated a published book based on interactions between her and her grandmother Joanne Miller.

If there’s a kid that you have some influence over as a parent or some other reason, how about you do your best today and tomorrow and the next day to inspire them to awesomeness, even if it feels like torture to them right now.

Disclaimer- My kids are in no way perfect, nor am I. If you want to hear any stories or advice about mistakes they’ve made, things we do, or mistakes we’ve made as parents, just get in touch.

This message was written by a team of geeks, nerds, gamers, and Dr. David Powers. You can always find us at www.callsignredbeard.com. Thanks for reading!

“How about you spend the next 39 days reversing the decisions that put you in debt?”

“I filed for bankruptcy. You could do the same.”

Her words bothered me. Don’t think I’m not saying some of the same things and worse to myself anyway. You know what, though, I’m just gonna keep pushing on. I have to. Another thing Ryan taught me was that if I slow down too much or give it too much power, the Dark Passenger will show up and convince me I’m truly worthless.

In honor of this lady’s e-mails, I’ll mention a series of short stories I wrote about a husband living a truly crappy life where nothing goes right. It’s called The Diary of a Crappy Husband. I’m in that kind of mood right now.

The best way you can help me is by spreading the word. Please forward this e-mail on to everyone you know. I need as many people as possible to know about this in case they can help us or know someone else who can.